Bromsgrove community dentists raise awareness of mouth cancer
A community dental team has been working hard to raise awareness of mouth cancer in and around Bromsgrove.
Members of staff from the community dental team at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust donned blue lip stickers and fancy dress outfits to encourage people to learn about oral cancer and to keep an eye for potential warning signs.
November was Mouth Cancer Action Month, and the team was eager to support the campaign and encourage patients in the Bromsgrove area to ensure they’re up to date with routine dental checks. Oral cancer is becoming more common in the UK. The number of cases has almost doubled in the last 10 years and this form of cancer kills more people than cervical and testicular cancer combined. Despite the shocking statistics, public awareness is poor, and this means that most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Early diagnosis can make all the difference to patients diagnosed with mouth cancer, and this is why the community dental team has been out and about trying to raise awareness and ensure people know all about the causes, risk factors and symptoms. Oral cancer checks are included in routine check-ups, and dentists are encouraging patients to book appointments as soon as possible if they spot signs such as slow-healing sores or ulcers, red or white patches in the mouth, abnormal swelling in the mouth or throat, difficulty swallowing or unexplained bleeding or oral pain.
Join this Discussion